Heart to Heart reconnects New Orleans residents to local healthcare services

NEW ORLEANS/December 19, 2006 — Heart to Heart International Inc., a leading global humanitarian organization, today said Christmas came a few days early for many residents in Gentilly, a neighborhood in New Orleans that was hit hard by flooding after Hurricane Katrina made landfall in August 2005.

Heart to Heart has served as a health partner for the city of New Orleans for the past 18 months. Over that span, the organization has operated eight free medical clinics, engaged hundreds of volunteers to treat thousands of people, and worked to help the city’s officials get the local health system back on its feet.

For several communities, Heart to Heart has taken on the role of primary-care providers. This role was never intended to be permanent; instead, the organization has been working behind the scenes to connect residents back to local health resources.

Heart to Heart and 43 students and 11 faculty members from the School of Nursing at Point Loma Nazarene University canvassed neighborhoods throughout Gentilly to survey residents on health needs, distribute a handbook of health tips, and share information about local resources available to them. The outreach effort concluded with a family health fair at the site of Heart to Heart’s mobile clinic.

“It was really an effort to reconnect people back to their local clinics and hospitals,” said Jeff DeGraffenreid, Heart to Heart’s vice president for global crisis response. “Many people simply don’t know what’s out there anymore, because much of the local recovery efforts have been overshadowed by what’s not happening. We wanted the residents to understand that clinics and hospitals are open and ready to help them.”

The team visited 1,600 homes—many of which were abandoned—and surveyed more than 200 families. Most shared their health concerns, but they also shared their stories—an important part of the psychological healing needed to improve community health in New Orleans.

The health fair attracted 50 families. The team provided blood-pressure screening and blood-glucose testing for adults and hygiene products and face painting for the children. An education station provided families with self-care tips, important lessons on when to call a doctor, and assistance with questions on health insurance.

Heart to Heart continues to help residents of New Orleans make the transition back to reliable health services at the local level. Most of the organization’s resources are now focused on deploying volunteers to fill gaps at local health facilities.

Financial support is still needed to make this important transition. People interested in helping Heart to Heart restore health services in New Orleans are encouraged to contact the Resource Development staff at 913-764-5200 or by emailing them at info@hearttoheart.org.